Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-05
BUSINESS OUTLOOK.

BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
Employers OF labor from railroad man
ayers, employing six to ten thousand mer
down to builders, employing but a dozer
have been put in q more eontended frame
OF mind by the events OF the past tive
weeks. The leaders of labor organizations
not win aud that there is an unexpected de.
velopment Of unanimity between employers
everywhere. The probabilities to-day are
that the bulk OF this years strikes will be
done before the close of spring. 1t is well
that this should be the case. The rank and
file OF labor organizations are demanding q
return to the Republican rather than to
the autocratic labor management. This
reaction is the secret OF the confidence of
employers. The rank and file desire to de-
eide for themselves whether they will strike,
rather than have committees In other cities
decide for them.
On the other hand, tho Knights of Labor
and the trades %unionists are growing in
numbers and unanimity. Both OF these
/ pOWCClul OIkhuIzdItOu6 liz w EOtdIuCU VIUS1I
strength. They will use it more wisely and
seek to avoid the mistakes which they have
made. While strikes may take place on a
large scale, the probabilities are much less
than last fall. Very few agitations will be
undertaken for eight hours or for higher
pay. The building trades are pretty thor
oughly organized all over the country, both
among masters and men, and they are
quietly talking matters over and coming to
agreements.
The volume OF trade is increasing slowly.
The increase in New York, Boston and
Philadelphia for the past week was $685. |
600. 900 over the previous week. There is
an activity in the distribution OF staple
products all over the West. Money is
abundant for commercial purposes. Prices
OF provisions have improved a little along
the Atlantic coast, owing to the heavy ex-
ports. Steady prices for all kinds Of ag-
ricultural products are assured for the next
three months, and, should a foreign war
break out an immediate advance will take
place. A tremendous strain would occur
in all great financial centres. The banks
are preparing themselves to meet it.
At Boston business is better than a week
ago. Heavy shipments are being made in
dry goods, boots and shoes. At Philadel-
phia an improvement has taken place in
the movements of all staple products. At
Pittsburg, stocks are light in country
hands and a heavy business is as
sured for the next two weeks. In Cincin-
natl manufacturing activity is general and
orders are far ahead of deliveries. At Chi
cago there is an active distribution of dry
goods, clothing and provisions. Soft and
hard coal are very firm and active, and the
for lumber is steadily increasing. 5
At st. Louis, business is rather slack, ow-
ng to the bad condition of country roads.
At Kansas City, business is crowding, and
! great many houses are behind in their :
orders. At New Orleans, the spring trade
8 very active in the staple lines. Through
,ut Texas, there is considerable activity =
manufacturing enterprise developing. {
At New York there is in store 13, 900, 900 !
bushels Of grain. The exports of domestic
'readstuffs for seven months foot up $685. .
VOC, 200, as against $62, 600, 900 for the :
corresponding seven months of last season. :
Groceries and provisions of all kinds are =
[uctuating in supply and value at this =
ime, owing to the uncertain influences =
'hich may control the markets during the .
lext two months. Wool markets are T
ather dull throughout the country. Sales =
re light, and the market will probably !,
~ontinue irregular until more can be known =
IS to the spring demand. =
The Anthracite coal trade is rather dull, j..
Though the outlook for the season is very =
air. The Atlantic bituminous coal inter- :.
SITS have combined and fixed prices and :.
nticipate the best season they have ever "
ad.
The manufacturing and shipping interests
re deeply concerned over the effects which
ne Interstate Commerce Bill will have on
eight rates. The railroad companies are |,
ow engaged upon the work OF fixing prices u
nd are not accepting business for future =
hipment until they can place themselvesin !.
armony with the recent legislation. !,
The spirit OF trades unions is cropping =
ut very strongly among the Knights of =,
abor. There are a dozen or more appli. ',
atoms in hand from various branches for
District Assemblies. In New :.
ork the Brewers Local Assembly, 5000 -
revolted against an irregular :.
to strike. The fourteen local Assem-. -
lies of the stationary engineers did the -
ame. Some OF the 'longshoremen's assem- D
lies will probably leave the Order unless r.
ley can be paciied; and some other =.
ssemblies are talking OF throwing up their u
larters on account OF dissatisfaction grow =.
e out OF the strike. In Texas the farmers -
re entering the Knights OF Labor. and as -
are epringing up all over the :,
tates. Several assemblies passed resolu- =;
ons in favor of the Interstate Commerce =
i'll and sent them to the President. AS -
mbly No. 1880, which is composed exclu- =
vely OF women, in Chicago, formed a po-
5ical club last week. The farmers of I'LL. r,
Dis are applying for membership in some il
'semblies there. Thu secret work OF the Ir
is to be translated for the use of n,
70 Bohemian assemblies at St. Paul, m
innesota. A Knight of Labor library is To-
be established in Minneapolis next n,
ring. ii